Students learn about the Tuskegee Airmen

HELENDALE • A former B-24 bomber pilot and a Tuskegee Airman who fought in World War II shared with students on Monday real-life stories that changed the course of history.

Helendale-based John Sonneborn and former airman Bill Holloman III have known each other for three years. But previously unknown to either of them, their relationship actually started more than 64 years ago.

On July 12, 1944, Holloman and Sonneborn were on the same mission. Sonneborn was on a B-24 Liberator bomber tasked with taking out enemy radar towers near Nimes, France. Holloman, one of the first black military airmen, was protecting him and others in his P-51 Mustang, helping keep more than 150 German fighters at bay.

The foundation dedicated to honoring the precedent-setting black airmen wasn't formed until 1972, at which point they called themselves "Tuskegee Airmen." But in 1944, while they were protecting bombers in Europe, they were simply known as the "colored crews" or "Negro crews."

Today, Holloman, 84, and the rest of those known as the Tuskegee Airmen command tremendous respect from Sonneborn and other pilots whose planes were protected by the crews in World War II. Other Americans share that admiration.

"What we did convinced (President Harry S.) Truman to integrate the armed forces," Holloman told an auditorium full of Helendale students. "We were an experiment and we had to do well. It opened the door for all races."

Sonneborn, 89, described the mission over Nimes as one of the toughest he had, and despite the Tuskegee Airmen destroying around 30 German fighters, two B-24 bombers were lost. Holloman said that it dispels the myth that the Tuskegee Airmen never lost a bomber to enemy aircraft.

"They did a pretty darn good job," Sonneborn said.

Holloman flew 19 missions in the second world war before going on to fight in Korea and Vietnam.

He can hardly remember a mission during World War II where one of the Tuskegee Airmen was lost. But in the war that ended 12 years before nine black students were denied access into Little Rock High School in Arkansas, 66 black fighter pilots lost their lives defending a nation that did not see them as equals.

"Racism is a terrible thing, and it hurts our society," Holloman said. He is proud to be part of the group that blazed the trail of acceptance and feels a sense of accomplishment for the opportunities earned by the sacrifices of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Since he turned 70, Holloman has earned two college degrees and a doctorate, and urged the kids at Riverview Middle School be the best in their class and create competition among themselves.

Today he and Sonneborn will reunite in Helendale with around 60 other veterans from World War II to celebrate the historic events they are a part of and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

"It's arguably the most significant event in history," said eighth-grade history teacher Joe Losi, who introduced the veterans Monday. "These were young guys that had to do things you can't even imagine, which is why they're known as the 'greatest generation.'"

Holloman said he doesn't think America can ever come together like it did the day after Pearl Harbor because he just doesn't believe we're that close anymore, but he gave the kids one last bit of advice: "When you go home, thank the veterans in your family, because remember, they're the ones that keep us free."

Ryan Orr may be reached at 951-6277 or rorr@vvdailypress.com.

Students react to hearing history firsthand from a Tuskegee Airman:

"He had to deal with so much racism just to get into fighting, when others could just be gladly accepted. He fought for a country that didn't even support him in the beginning and to me that's just amazing. Because of him and so many others that sacrificed for us, he was part of what opened the door for all of us, for every race to be able to have a chance in America."

— Daniel Kim, ninth grade

"It's amazing that they have all these experiences they can present to all of us. It must have been really terrifying because during that time so much was going on."

— Azariah Parente, ninth grade

"I learned how he dealt with the racism so much, and what he did to serve our country and make the world how it is today."